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Conference quokka::non_custodial_parents

Title:Welcome to the Non-Custodial Parents Conference
Notice:Please read 1.* before writing anything
Moderator:MIASYS::HETRICK
Created:Sun Feb 25 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:420
Total number of notes:4370

26.0. "Communication Can Work" by POCUS::NORDELL () Fri Mar 16 1990 09:49

    If anyone out there is in a "communicating" position with their
    ex or attempting to get there and needs a little push, here is a
    small story of how I can work.
    
    My daughter is 9 and very thin.  She is the smallest and thinnest
    in her class.  No news to me or her dad.  Her dad was 6'4" and 145
    lbs. when he graduated high school and the same when he graduated
    college ten years later.  I was 5'5" and barely 100 lbs. when I
    graduated school and am now 5'6" and 118 lbs.  Not exactly needing
    a diet!  We know she has no chance of being anything but thin and
    tall.
    
    Well, it started!  Yesterday she was crying because the kids in
    school are making fun of her because she is so tiny and thin (their
    words "bony" "skinny").  I told her all the stories about me when
    I was growing up and some of the names kids called me and that I
    was sure Daddy had the same problem and that she should talk to
    him about it.
    
    He called last nite but we were not home until very late so I called
    him at the office today and told him about her concerns.  He is
    very anxious to talk to her tonight and reassure her that he went
    through the same thing.  I know she is going to take comfort in
    the fact that BOTH parents had the same experiences growing up (whether
    it is height, weight, clothes, grades, hobbies) or even if only
    one had such experiences, to share that with the child.  
    
    Also, while talking to him he had just scheduled a business trip
    to NJ and will arrive early on Sunday and wants to take her for
    the afternoon.  OK by me - I get a free afternoon.  When will these
    custodial parents give a little - you get so much in return.  I
    always ask myself this question:  WHO WILL BENEFIT?  If it comes
    out to be my daughter in any way - there is my answer.
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
26.1re: -1FSTVAX::BEANAttila the Hun was a LIBERAL!Mon Mar 19 1990 08:463
    Boy!  I wish my ex could/would be as understanding as you!
    
    tony
26.2downsideHOCUS::NORDELLMon Mar 19 1990 09:2231
    Well, here's the downside to this.  My daughter (Jane) for whatever
    reason (I think rebelling) cannot keep her room clean.  I'm talking
    old breadsticks on the floor, clothes everywhere, her sheets stained
    with ink, old milk glasses on the desk.  Now I am not a "neat freak"
    but I do not live like this so it causes many arguments.  I have
    tried grounding, screaming, threatening, ignoring, rewarding, and
    incentives - nothing works.  Well, when Dad called on Saturday,
    I told him the situation and said I didn't think she deserved anything
    special when he came down on Sunday.  I wouldn't keep him from her
    but that I thought he should just stay at my place with her and
    not take her out.  My opinion, for what it was worth.
    
    I got an invitation to go for a drive and to dinner - a second date
    with a nice guy and left for the afternoon, early evening.  I came
    home to a clean room and new clothes on her bed - they were out
    to dinner.  Her Dad helped her clean the room, took her to the mall
    and bought her a new outfit and took her swimming at the hotel,
    to grandma's and out to dinner.  Of course, he is gone today and
    I am left with a child that is rewarded for poor behavior.
    
    Before all of this I was considering giving him custody in Sept.
     Now I am seriously considering this.  She thinks life at Dads is
    better but doesn't really want to leave her friends and school w/Mom.
    How do I get the message across!  Are you other dads guilty of this
    too?  I asked her this morning of Dad talked to her about her behavior
    and she said "no".  Of course, I'll ask him for sure but the damage
    is done - she got her room cleaned, new clothes, activities, etc.
    
    It's times like this that I think there might be some merit to being
    a bitch!  I'm having a bad day.
    
26.3CSC32::K_JACKSONBetter living through alchemy!Mon Mar 19 1990 09:233

  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Make that two of us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
26.4Dad should have showed support for youCSC32::K_JACKSONBetter living through alchemy!Mon Mar 19 1990 09:3627

  RE:  .2


  I will say that I am guilty of spoiling my daughters, but I also have
  set rules and when they are broken, we discuss the punishment and I
  let them decide the punishment.

  Unfortunately, I haven't had the luxury of having them live with me
  only visit.  When they come to visit, they pick up after themselves. 
  Mostly the oldest one does.  She has been put into a "mother" state
  by having to take care of her younger sister for last few years. 

  She is a very bright girl and has a good head on her shoulders.  Maybe
  she feels she is obligated to, I don't know.  I just know that I'm
  very proud of her.

  Maybe dad/mom/daughter should sit down together and find out why she
  doesn't want to clean her room at your house but is Ms. Clean at Dads?
  Dad should have not assisted but insisted instead.  He should have
  laid the law down before he took her anywhere, not as punishment, but
  to show her that you have his support!

  Which ever, I hope you have a better day!


26.5Cooperate, but handle your own problems.CSC32::HADDOCKAll Irk and No PayMon Mar 19 1990 11:3220
    re .2
      > Well, when Dad called on Saturday,
      >  I told him the situation and said I didn't think she deserved anything
      >special when he came down on Sunday.  I wouldn't keep him from her
      >but that I thought he should just stay at my place with her and
      >not take her out.  My opinion, for what it was worth.
    
    Limitation/restriction of visitation should *never* be used as a 
    punishment.  There are a lot of other ways to enforce your rules:
    Confiscate items from the room, fine from allowance, grounded
    from other activities/friends.  I agree that you and your ex need
    to set up a consistent set of rules and expectations,  but handle
    your own enforcement.  Neither of you have the right to ask the
    other to enforce your consequences just as neither of have the
    right to undermine the other's rules and dicipline.
    
    If you are having behavioral problems with your child, I would suggest
    contacting your local ToughLove organization.
    
    fred();
26.6perhaps too liberalPOCUS::NORDELLMon Mar 19 1990 12:5517
    First let me say that he has the same standards as far as orderlines
    goes and she manages to keep her room clean in Canada.  I was only
    expressing to him what I thought should be done to get across the
    idea that this behavior is unacceptable.  If he had another method
    of getting this across, great, let me hear it.  I was and am open
    to suggestions
    
    His trip to NJ was very sudden and if I were the type to live by
    the letter of the agreement he would not have gotten to see her
    at all.  I am a V E R Y liberal ex.  He has free access to her at
    all time, as it should be.  
    
    My point was that she knew Dad was a "push over".  Yes, we need
    to agree on methods of discipline but it seems that he has none
    and I have too much.  He tries to make up for all the time he is away
    from her.  
    
26.7keep priorities straightCSC32::HADDOCKAll Irk and No PayMon Mar 19 1990 15:2211
    re -1
    What I am saying is that this is how this *&^%$ buisness starts.
    One parent withholds visitation to try to leverage their point
    of view, then other withholds child support, and the whole mess
    snowballs with the kid in the middle.  Use whatever you need to
    use, but you and your daugher's problems are between you and your
    daughter (the same way that you and your ex's problems are 
    *only* between you and your ex).
    
    One thing *neither* parent should *ever* be is a tool for punishment.
    fred();
26.8SLUGER::KERSCHMon Mar 19 1990 21:4414
    
    
    	 Myself I see no problem with you asking for support in this
    matter from him. But when it comes down to in effect asking him
    to show her a "bad time" on one of his visits thats another ball-
    game. Maybe you could have had him talk to her for you and see if
    that helped. You have to understand that for us fathers who only
    see our kids once in awhile the last thing we want to end up doing
    is someone elses dirty work. If the problem with her was in the
    time that he has her then it would be a different story. Then it
    would be his job to take care of the problem. Just my opinions.
    
    JK
    
26.9SIVA::MACDONALDTue Apr 17 1990 10:0518
    
    I also agree that the problem is between you and your daughter.
    My ex has tried to get me to be involved with the discipline of my son
    for things that go on in her home between him and her.  I have
    steadfastly refused to do that.  Even though I often agree with her, it
    is hurting me and him and my relationship with him if when he shows up
    at my place he starts to hear about the battles with his mother.
    
    What I have done that I think is reasonable is to refuse to take his
    side.  He blows off steam, but I restrict my involvement to saying:
    "It's quite clear that you and your mother are having a problem over
    this and that is where it has be resolved: by you and your mother."
    Any further comment is restricted to helping him understand how to
    have a productive conversation with his mother.  His mother seems
    satisfied with this since it works both ways.  If he and I have a
    problem his mother tells him to take it up with me.
    
    Steve